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Mental Review Ordered For Mother Of Missing Twins

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - The mother of Pennsylvania twins who child welfare caseworkers haven't been able to locate for more than 10 years must have a mental health evaluation before she faces a preliminary hearing on charges she's endangered the children and obstructed efforts to find them.

A district judge postponed Monday's hearing and ordered 47-year-old Patricia Fowler to have the evaluation before the rescheduled hearing Sept. 12. The Penn Hills woman and her public defender declined comment afterward.

Police say when they questioned her about the location of the twins, she gave multiple stories: that they were with a friend, that they were living with a relative in South Carolina, and then told police she sold them for $2,000 a piece several years ago.

The stories haven't checked out and police aren't sure where the twins are. They would be 17 years old today.

"Ten years, it's almost like a cold case investigation, if you will, and we're not getting information from the person who would have it, if you will," said Penn Hills Police Chief Howard Burton.

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Her son, 18-year-old Datwon Fowler, is charged with pretending to be one of the twins and last week, sending a text message to police saying they're OK. He's jailed, faces a hearing Aug. 29, and doesn't have an attorney listed in court records.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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